Another new sign

Our tiny little "airport" (it's really just an airstrip) is apparently official now.



Fancy, huh?

Whew!

Unlike the last time we were rushed to get to the Hatteras ferry and missed it, we just barely made it onto the 10 PM ferry last night. We had driven up to Norfolk to pick up my sister, and everyone on the car was holding their breath at 9:59 as we came around the corner of the shortcut road to get to the landing. The ferry staff was actually just about to close the gate as we drove up, but they held it open for us and we drove on and joined the back row. The ferry was moving within 20 seconds of us parking on the deck!

Streeeeeeeeetch

There's a REALLLLLLLY LOOOOOOONG limo driving around the island this evening. Full of teenagers. It's prom night, and they are dressed to the nines and having a ball.

I tried to take a picture of the limo, so you could see how long the dang thing is (really, I have never seen a stretch limo that long before!), but my camera was not cooperating because it was dark. Sorry 'bout that...

Press release

It's almost time for the Ocrafolk Festival! Here's the official press release, which I received in email today.

The 10th Annual Ocrafolk Festival ~ June 5-7, 2009
The tenth annual Ocrafolk Music and Storytelling Festival will be held
in the heart of Ocracoke Village on June 5-7, 2009. This free
festival features musicians, storytellers, artisans, and the culture
of Ocracoke Island and Eastern Carolina. In addition to weekend
performances, events include a Friday night community potluck and
fundraising auction at the Ocracoke School Gym, Saturday night
traditional Ocracoke square dance, and Sunday morning gospel sing!

Featured performers include national storyteller Bil Lepp, and musical
groups Molasses Creek, Coyote, Noah Paley, The Barnraisers, Mandolin
Orange, Bob Zentz, Kate McNally, Craicdown, Donald Thompson, The Green
Grass Cloggers, Trent Wagler and Steel Wheels, The Ocracoke Jazz
Society, Skye Zentz, storyteller Philip Howard, April Trueblood, Phil
Kelly, Ruth Wyand, Jef the Mime, Louise Kessel, Sundae Horn, Capt. Rob
Temple, John Golden, storyteller Rodney Kemp, Kathleen Fogarty,
chainsaw artist Clyde Jones, Jubal Creech, Rick Lee, the Last Rebels
of Rock, Mallomar, Katy Mitchell, Mandolin Orange, The Ocrafolk Opry,
and Warren, Bodle and Allen.
The Ocrafolk Festival is a non-profit event housed under the Ocracoke
Preservation Society. For more information visit the festival website
at www.ocrafolkfestival.org.

Visit www.ocrafolkfestival.org for details on auction items,
performers, artisans, schedules, and sponsors. Programs will arrive
in the village on Thursday, June 4.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, June 5, 2009 at the Ocracoke School Gym
6:00 PM --“Meet the Performers” Pot-Luck
Some main dishes provided for suggested donation (bring a side dish,
dessert or drink)
7:30 PM – Ocrafolk Festival Live Auction Fundraiser
This great live auction has been redesigned for 2009 to be even more
exciting! Visit the festival website auction page to see your list of
must-haves. All proceeds go to support this year's event!
9:00 PM — Storytelling by Bil Lepp, Music by Warren, Bodle and Allen

Saturday, June 6
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM -- Artisans and craftspeople from Coastal Carolina
and beyond!
Silent Auction all day Saturday (next to Deepwater Pottery)

*=New performances/events in 2009

Live Oak Stage
(Rain site Ocracoke School Gym)
10:00 AM – Kate McNally*
11:00 AM – Craicdown*
12:00 PM –Donald Thompson Band
1:00 PM – The Barnraisers
2:00 PM – Green Grass Cloggers (w/Molasses Creek and Rodney Kemp)
3:00 PM – Trent Wagler & Steel Wheels
4:00 PM -- Bil Lepp*
5:00 PM -- Molasses Creek

Howard Street Stage
(Rain site Deepwater Theater)
9:30 AM – Ocracoke Jazz Society
10:30 AM -- Bil Lepp*
11:00 AM – Skye Zentz
12:00 PM – Phil Kelly
12:45 AM -- Philip Howard “Ocracoke Stories"
1:30 PM – Coyote & Noah Paley
2:30 PM – April Trueblood*
3:30 PM – Warren Bodle & Allen
4:30 PM – Ruth Wyand

Deepwater Theater Family Stage (Outside)
(Rain location Ocracoke School)
9:00 AM -- Clyde Jones Chainsaw Critters (kids and adults come help design
them!)
10:30 AM – Louise Kessel (little kids stories)
11:00 AM – Fish printing (Outside)
12:00 PM – Juggling workshop with Jef the Mime* (Outside)
1:00 PM – Cynthia Mitchell & Kitty Mitchell's "Why Bear Why"* (Inside)
3:00 PM – Clogging workshop (Outside)
3:00 PM – Last Rebels of Rock (Inside)

Saturday Evening Events
8:00 PM -- Traditional Ocracoke Squaredance at Ocracoke School Gym
(Easy to learn and open to all!)
9:00 PM – Mallomar British Invasion Band (Ocracoke Community Center)
9:30 PM – Katy Mitchell (Ocracoke Community Center)
10:00 PM – Michael Stanwood & Fiddler Dave (Deepwater Theater)
10:30 PM – Mandolin Orange (Deepwater Theater)*
10:30 PM – Open Mic & Jam with Kevin Hardy

Sunday, June 7
Live Oak Stage
(Rain site Ocracoke School Gym)
9:30 AM -- Gospel Sing (Morning Rain Location at Ocracoke Community Center)
11:00 AM -- Services at the Ocracoke Churches
12:00 PM – Mandolin Orange*
1:00 PM -- Ocrafolk Opry with Aaron Caswell, Sundae Horn, Capt. Rob
Temple, Jamie Tunnell, Paul & Jim Wynn, and Jule Garrish
2:00 PM – Scuttlebutt (Bob Zentz & Rick Lee)
3:00 PM -- All Star Jam Finale

Sad seaweed

I have blogged here before about the fact that the beach is slightly different every day, and never gets boring. Today, it was what I call a "seaweedy" day...there were clumps of it as far as the eye could see.



As I looked more closely at the bundles, I noticed that there were many coquina clams attached to it.



And then I noticed the sad thing: the coquinas were dying, reaching out into the air, looking for water, for sustenance.



I had seen this once before, when the large log/tree trunk/whatever it is washed up on the beach several years ago. Then, as now, I wished there was something I could do, and considered picking up the clumps of seaweed and throwing them back into the ocean. I knew how very little I could help, though, and the feeling of powerlessness was difficult. It reminded me of what has been referred to as "the starfish story", which I was able to find in poem form online:

One summer day I went out walking along a strand of beach
Where hundreds of starfish were stranded beyond tide's reach
As I strolled along the sands a kindly lady passed by me
Throwing stranded, struggling starfish back into the briny sea.

I asked "Why do you do this when you can only save
Those few lucky starfish you throw back into the waves,
Why do you even bother, since most of them will die?
Does it really matter that much?" I asked and she replied:

"I cannot save all the starfish, many of them die, I know,
With so many more miles of sandy seashore still to go,
But for every single starfish saved from the killing sun,

I think it matters, yes it matters. It matters to this one.

Windfall sail

I try to take my camera with me most of the time, so I can take pictures for the blog (and just for myself, too). It doesn't matter if I'm going anywhere particularly "scenic", I take it everywhere, just in case. Around here, you never know when you're going to see something lovely, interesting, or just plain blog-worthy.

Today, I went somewhere truly scenic - a sail on the schooner Windfall. Did I remember my camera, though? Of course not!

I promise I'll take another sail sometime this season, post pictures this time!

Jimmy's review

We finally ate at Jimmy's Buffet, and as promised, here are my thoughts on it.

The summary is that our experience there was just so-so. It's difficult to do fish on a buffet, because if it's out for much time at all, it dries out considerably. Unfortunately, most of the fish on the buffet was dry. The crab legs, however, were really good. (Crab legs are so much darn work, though!) There was a crab and seafood bisque which was fantastic, and the hot crab dip was delicious. The chocolate peanut butter pie for dessert was marvelous, too. The buffet has loads of items on it, and a handful of them were excellent...the rest were just average or not-great.

You can definitely get your money's worth there, though: go hungry, and eat lots of crab dip, crab bisque and crab legs. (They have several kinds.)

I understand they have a breakfast buffet, too, but I haven't tried that yet. (Not sure if I will or not.) If you have tried breakfast at Jimmy's, or just have anything else to add, leave a comment!

The sign!

When I arrived at the auction on Saturday night, I saw one item that I knew I had to have. I decided on my budget, and then I had a little bit of luck on my side and didn't have to spend it all to get it.

Here's a picture of my big purchase.



Yes, that's the sign which used to be on the Community Store. And yes, big is the operative word. The thing is 4 feet by 8 feet! And yes, I was really excited to win it, as you know if you were at the auction and heard me celebrating after the bidding stopped!

I'm planning to hang it on the outside of my house, partially so others can enjoy seeing it again, and partially because there isn't a single wall in my house quite big enough for it (well, that doesn't already have a large piece of furniture or something like that up against it).

First night at the Jolly

Yesterday was the first night of live music at the Jolly Roger, featuring Molasses Creek. I went with my friend Jamie and her family, to enjoy the show (and a meal). We watched the sun set over Silver Lake, and counted the sailboats on the harbor while listening to some excellent music. It was a terrific evening.

Funds for firemen

The Fourth Annual Memorial Day Weekend auction and firemen's ball was a great success, raising a lot of money for the construction of a new fire station for the island. The event featured a silent auction:





and a barbecue dinner:





...with beer. Appropriately, it was "Hook and Ladder" beer...and the kegs certainly fit the theme of the evening, too.





and a live auction:






and a dance. (I didn't stay for the dance, so I don't have any pictures of it.)

I am not sure how much was raised in total, but I do know that the live auction alone raised over $15,000. Money which will be put to good use protecting the community.

Talent show

I attended the Ocracoke School talent show last night and was highly entertained, as well as impressed with the array of skills the kids displayed. They sang, danced, and played a wide variety of instruments. Oh, and there was one act billed as an "unusual skill". Here are a few pictures...


Starr curtseying after her dance.


The 4th grade girls performed a dance they had choreographed themselves.


Sam displayed his "unusual skill".


The beginning guitar class played the song "Eating Chicken", which was written by one of the high school seniors.


The middle school band, The Last Rebels of Rock, performed a couple of songs, and were joined by the "Wild Things" (aka several teachers, dressed in hilarious costumes straight out of the sixties.


Cassandra sang a song called "I Don't Believe You".


Caswell, Caswell, Castro and Bennink closed out the show with several songs.

It was an excellent show and a great reminder of how much talent there is around here.

Touch-n-go

This morning, as I was leaving the beach, I noticed a helicopter coming in to land on the helipad. I didn't think much of it at first, assuming it was a medical transport. But then I looked closer, and realized it was a military-looking aircraft. It landed, but the rotors kept running. And then it took off again, almost immediately. I heard it several additional times throughout the day. I guess the pilots from the Air Base at Cherry Point were practicing touch and go landings. Bet they don't mind doing it out here - at least the scenery is gorgeous!

Here they are landing...


...and taking back off again.

No parking

This scene I saw at the airport ramp to the beach was just too funny not to share.



Guess the sign doesn't apply to bikes!

For sale?

I noticed this sign recently and thought it was funny since it's pretty hard to see or read, as surrounded as it is by rapidly growing plants. I personally don't mind...I don't want to see this place sold. (No, I'm not going to tell you what it is - I don't want you to buy it!)

Another new restaurant

There's another new restaurant in the works on the island, this one in the location that was formerly the Pelican (across and slightly down from the Community Square, on Highway 12 near the harbor). Here's everything I know about it so far:



Yep, that's all I know. The name (Dajio) and the fact that they plan to serve cold beer, fine wine and really good food. Sounds good to me!

They are currently in the midst of preparing for the season, including a new paint job. It's a bit hard to see through the screened porch, but they've painted the walls yellow with blue trim.



I'll try it when it opens and let you know what I think.

Spaghetti dinner

Tonight, we went to the Girl Scout spaghetti dinner fundraiser. It was a delicious way to support the local troop, not to mention a seriously easy dinner.






Even Connor ate spaghetti. (Well, it was his baby spaghetti, but he was participating in spirit!)

BINGO BINGO BINGO

I got the info. below in an email recently, so thought I would share...


Yes, it's that time of year again... when the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department needs YOU to help at Bingo. The Bingo games start the Tuesday after Memorial Day and will be held every Tuesday after that until Labor Day. Doors open at 7pm; games start at 7:30. Volunteers usually hang around until the games are over around 10pm.

Bingo is an important fundraiser for our fire department, and it takes lots of volunteers to keep it going. We need at least 4 people each week to work the Bingo tables -- checking cards, answering questions and selling specials. Our loyal Bingo volunteers are wonderful, but we always need fresh recruits. Please give us a helping hand by volunteering for the whole summer or just one Tuesday! It's easy to
learn and fun, too – all for a good cause!

If you'd like to sign up for Bingo duty, please contact volunteer coordinator Sundae Horn.

A profusion of roses

I saw this lovely array of roses outside a local B&B today, so I took a photo to share with you. Enjoy!

Senior Sunday

Today in church it was Senior Sunday. No, not for the over-60 set, for the High School graduating class. There are 9 of them total this year, and 8 attended the service to be specially recognized. They introduced themselves, telling the congregation about their plans for the near future (many plan to attend college).

Then Pastor Joyce gave them each a gift - a Bible, which she had inscribed with a personal note for each of them. She said "this is a good book, I recommend reading it". Good advice, for graduating seniors, and everyone else!

Things to do in the next week

Here are a few coming events for this week, so you can enjoy some or all of them if you are on the island.

Wednesday 5/20 - Spaghetti Dinner at the United Methodist Church Rec Hall, 4:30 - 7:30, $8 a plate

Thursday 5/21 - Ocracoke School Talent Show, School Gym, 7 PM

Saturday 5/23 - Fourth Annual Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department Memorial Day Pig Pickin', Auction, and Dance - Community Center, starting at 5 PM

I plan to enjoy all of these. Hope you can, too!

BBQ and baby basketball

Today was a very full day. I ran from event to event most of the day, but the cutest one was definitely the Ocracoke Child Care Hoop-a-Thon. (And the BBQ lunch which went along with it was good, too!)

Here are some pictures...enjoy!


Miss Merrian tried to explain to her daughter Payce that it was a BASKETBALL event, but Payce enjoyed chewing on her FOOTBALL anyway!


Each group of kids had a team name. The youngest ones were the Ocratots. Cute, huh?


Jacob dunks one!

Group of Friends

I attended the Friends of Portsmouth meeting this morning and learned a lot about that sister island to the south.

Dr. Michael Rikard presented information about his work with archaeologists to locate structures formerly on the island, in the "middle village" and Sheep island areas. He showed aerial photographs, taken from the 1940s through the 1990s which show how much has changed on the island, along with shots of some of the specific sites which have been explored. I've posted some of the photos below.

The next speaker was Rudy Austin, who takes people over to Portsmouth on his boat, and has been visiting the island since he was a young boy. He talked about his Dad's friendship with Henry Pigott, one of the last few residents of Portsmouth. Rudy's Dad was the caretaker of the hunting and fishing club on the island during the 1950s. The club was owned by a corporation in Pilot Mountain, who used it for friends, customers and employees. Henry helped at the club, keeping an eye on the building (the club was housed in the Coast Guard station building at the edge of the village), and preparing meals. Usually, the days catch (fish, ducks, etc.) was the main course, but there were cases of Bunker Hill Beef and Gravy kept on site to eat on days when the hunters and fishermen didn't get or catch dinner.

Rudy told several stories about Henry, who ended up living with the Austin family on Ocracoke after he became ill with emphysema. My favorite anecdote was that Henry gave a hand carved decoy to Roy Waller from the Seashore Commission, even though Roy had come to take legal ownership of Henry's property during the process to convert Portsmouth Island to government control (in the time leading up to the creation of the Cape Lookout National Seashore). That story spoke volumes of Henry's quiet character.

As promised, here are some of the photos from Dr. Rikard's presentation.


1941 Aerial view


1997 Aerial view


A variety of artifacts found at the excavation sites


One of the oldest artifacts found, a Union button from the Civil War era


The Myron and Vera Willis gravesites, only recently uncovered/re-discovered.

Jazzy afternoon

It was a warm day, not hot. One of those great spring days on which it is lovely to throw open the windows. So I threw open the window in my office.

I was soon glad that I did, because I started hearing jazzy music, the notes drifting on the breeze and through my window. I could mostly hear the saxophone, but occasionally piano and other instruments blended in, too. I assume that the Ocracoke Jazz Society was having a rehearsal at Lou's house, right across the street.

It was a peaceful way to spend an afternoon. (Since I had to be working, at least I had some terrific musical accompaniment!)

School lunch

As I have mentioned on this blog before, I read to the first grade class once a week. I generally do so in the hour or so before lunch, so once our time ends, I usually stop in the school commons area and say hello to the second and third graders (whom I read to when they were in first grade).

You may already know that there's no cafeteria at Ocracoke School. The students either go home for lunch, or bring it with them to school and eat in the commons area. If students bring food which needs to be heated, their teachers do that using microwaves in the classrooms or in the commons area.

I have seen all the standard school lunch fare during my chats with the kids, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pizza, and juice boxes.

Today, however, I heard a student excitedly exclaim, after opening his lunch box, "I have fresh cobia!" And indeed he did. It looked delicious, and I was seriously jealous of his lunch.

I bet there aren't too many towns where kids have fresh (that is, caught the day before) cobia in their school lunches!

Progress?

Work continues at the building which will soon open as Jimmy's Buffet. The new sign has been installed.



I like the sign okay.

I do not, however, like what they did to the roof.



Beyond the fact that this is a historic building (having been moved from the military base which was on Ocracoke during WWII), putting a straw roof on any building is just cheesy. And - at least until Jimmy's came to town - Ocracoke had managed to avoid stupid touristy cheesy-looking buildings like this. Yuck.

So now, from my perspective, Jimmy's has two strikes: the faux grass roof and the exorbitant price. So I may not eat there and provide a review here, after all. Or maybe I still will. I'm undecided. Guess I'll wait until they open and listen to hear what others are saying about the place to decide whether I want to experience it for myself.

Garage concert

I joined a group of friends this evening for a concert by singer/songwriter Freddy Bradburn, who was on the island visiting his friend (and mine) DeAnna. The show was in Donald and Merle's garage, which is a terrific venue for this sort of thing (it was not the first concert I had attended there).

I enjoyed the show very much, mostly because Freddy's songs have excellent lyrics - some funny, many touching, several thought provoking. My friend Jamie and I both particularly loved one line from a song called Love in the Same Old Skin: "I look like now, but I feel like then." So true! If you like that line, too, you can download the song for free from Freddy's website.

DeAnna introducing Freddy to the audience

Sneak preview

I went to the annual Ocracoke Preservation Society Spring Membership Meeting and Potluck this evening. The food was, of course, fantastic (even though Philip and his deviled eggs were regrettably missing), but the evening's education and entertainment after the meal was even better.

After a brief business meeting, OPS Administrator DeAnna Locke told the group about plans for Porch Talks this year, including the addition of activities specifically for children. Then, the gathered members were treated to a preview of Porch Talks -


Dave Frum spoke about Portsmouth Island,


Gene Ballance gave an update on Saving Ocracoke's Last Fish House,



and Fiddler Dave and Captain Rob presented selections from their Rumgagger show.




It was a great way to spend an evening!

Lazing around

It rained much of the day today, making it a good day for lazing around.

Some members of the community get to laze around every day, rain or shine.


This cat found a nice shady spot on the Post Office steps.


This one found something totally fascinating to stare at, apparently.


This group came running when I arrived at the Post Office, I think because my Honda looks like the one driven by one of the people who feed the cats regularly. I might have to start bringing them some food, too.

Honoring young lost men

I attended the British Cemetery Memorial Service this morning, and it was moving as always. What struck me this morning, as I listened to Ocracoke High School senior Tristan Bennink read the list of names of men who died on the HMS Bedfordshire, was that many of them weren't much older than him.

Here are a few pictures from the service.


The crew of Coast Guard Station Hatteras marching in for the ceremony.


Senior Michelle Cartwright-Frye read the summary of events on May 11, 1942.


Tristan Bennink reading the Roll of Honor.


A crisp salute to the fallen young men.


21 gun salute.


Howard Bennink played Taps.


Additional music was provided by the piper and drummer.


Visiting dignitaries posed for pictures after the service.